Why leading retailers are investing in Store Mode

From curbside pickup to digital product locators, Store Mode is transforming the in-store experience. It's no longer a nice-to-have. It's a key driver of customer satisfaction and business results.

In this piece, we'll break down what Store Mode is, why it matters, how top brands are using it, and how Radar helps retailers build best-in-class Store Mode experiences.

What is Store Mode?

Store Mode refers to in-app experiences that activate when a customer is near or inside a store. These experiences often include:

• Pickup check-in and arrival detection.
• Product availability and aisle location.
• Store-specific deals and promotions.
• Indoor navigation.
• Loyalty, receipts, or rewards tied to store visits.

When done well, Store Mode blends the best of digital and physical shopping. It makes the in-store experience faster, more personalized, and easier to navigate.

Why Store Mode matters for customers

Today's shoppers expect convenience. They use their phones throughout the shopping journey, from product research to curbside pickup. Store Mode meets those expectations by enhancing key moments.

• Personalized shopping: Let customers build shopping lists or view curated items before they visit. When they arrive, they know exactly what to look for.
• Smarter shopping: Knowing what's in stock or where an item is located saves time and frustration.
• More relevant offers: Store-specific promos and timely messaging improve engagement and loyalty.

Customers are more likely to return when the in-store experience feels as intuitive as the online one.

Why Store Mode matters for retailers

Store Mode isn't just about delighting customers. It improves the bottom line.

• Higher app engagement: Store Mode gives customers a reason to open your app during every visit.
• Increased digital revenue: By bridging the gap between digital and physical, you drive more orders, repeat visits, and upsell opportunities.
• Operational efficiency: Automated arrival detection reduces manual work and helps store teams prepare orders in advance.
• Better data: You gain visibility into real-world behavior, including store visits, dwell time, and repeat patterns.

For product and digital teams, Store Mode is one of the highest-leverage ways to drive both customer value and business impact.

What best-in-class Store Mode looks like

Top retailers are already seeing results from Store Mode. Here are a few examples.

DICK'S Sporting Goods
When DICK'S detects a customer has opened their app within a store, the app's Store Mode lets customers scan barcodes for product information, customer reviews, and store-specific navigation. In-store shoppers can get free shipping if the products they're shopping for are out of stock. This tactic helps “save the sale,” showcases the omni-channel experience, and drives incremental revenue.

Home Depot
The Home Depot app offers a Store Mode that automatically surfaces when a customer enters a store, emphasizing fast product discovery. With this direct approach, they're doubling down on in-store engagement.

Of the 78% of consumers using retail apps regularly, nearly three quarters of those users tap into apps for in-store use, making Home Depot's tactics calculated. Instead of live indoor positioning, the experience relies on detailed store maps showing aisles and bays.

Target
Target surfaces personalized offers and powers their Drive Up pickup experience using location detection. Customers get notified when their order is ready, and associates are alerted when a shopper arrives.

When opening the Target app at any of their locations, shoppers can expect a clear call-to-action (CTA) on the homescreen to “Shop in Store Mode.” When tapped, a map with the store's floorplan is displayed. 

Sections for in-store promotions and custom lists help customers get the best deals, while helping them curate their favorites. 

Target also pins item locations on the map by aisle and section after a product is selected. After selecting which item you're interested in buying, the app populates the product on the store map, with real-time visibility into your movements towards a product.

These brands are not just adding convenience, they are building a tighter connection with customers every time they walk through the door.

How Radar powers Store Mode

Radar is the modern geolocation platform trusted by enterprise retailers. Our SDKs and APIs power Store Mode experiences across hundreds of millions of devices. We help product and digital teams ship faster and build better.

Here's how:

Arrival detection

Radar automatically detects when a customer approaches or enters a store, even if the app isn't open. Unlike out-of-the-box geofencing tools, Radar supports high-accuracy detection in urban areas, malls, or multi-tenant shopping centers.

Use arrival detection to trigger order preparation, display a welcome message, or prompt for check-in.

Location-based messaging

Send relevant messages at the right time and place. Whether it's a reminder for a curbside pickup, a limited-time offer, or a loyalty prompt, Radar helps you engage customers in the moments that matter most.

Address autocomplete and validation

Radar's address autocomplete and address validation improves checkout conversion and reduces order errors. For retailers offering pickup or delivery, this means fewer failed drop-offs and faster time to order.

Fast, flexible integration

Radar is developer-friendly. Our SDKs are lightweight, remotely configurable, and easy to implement in a single sprint. 

Why enterprise product and digital teams choose Radar

Radar isn't just another maps provider or basic geofencing tool. It’s a location infrastructure platform purpose-built for modern retailers.

Our advantages:

• Up to 10x more accurate than default iOS and Android geofencing.
• Unlimited polygon geofences, indoor support, and floor-level detection.
• Address autocomplete and validation included.
• Trusted by brands like DICK'S Sporting Goods, T-Mobile, and Abercrombie.
• All-in-one solution: geofencing, maps, and geolocation compliance.

Product and digital teams work with Radar to create more intuitive, more useful in-store experiences that convert.

Build the future of in-store

Store Mode isn't experimental anymore. It's a proven playbook for driving revenue, engagement, and loyalty. And the best part? You don’t have to build it all from scratch.

Radar helps you go from idea to implementation quickly, with tools that scale as you grow.

If you're reimagining your in-store experience, or just looking for a place to start, we can help.

Want to learn more about what the best retailers are building?
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